An OT with a question
Nadia Whitebird spent fifteen years as an occupational therapist watching capable people sit idle in memory care. She wondered what would happen if they had real work.
Our story
How we got here
The people, the place and the promise behind every day of care.
Our story
How the house roster started
A farmhouse on the river road
In 2013 she bought an old farmhouse east of Route 66 and drew up a laundry room, a workshop and a kitchen big enough for a crew.
The first roster
Verdigris House opened in 2014 with eleven residents. The first morning's roster had six jobs; by Friday it had fifteen.
Four households
Three more households followed, each with its own kitchen, so there's always someone to help.
The sewing room
Volunteers started a quilting frame in 2017. Every spring a quilt goes to the hospital nursery.
Today
Forty-four residents and more than thirty jobs on the roster. Every one gets thanked at supper.
- 44residents in four households
- 30+daily jobs on the house roster
- 2014first beds made together
- 1:5caregivers to residents by day
Ratings & recognition · sample
- Readers’ Choice · Best Memory Care
- Chamber of Commerce · Small Business of the Year
- Regional Medical Center · Preferred Partner
- Statewide Aging Network · Innovation Award
- Area Agency on Aging · Community Partner
- University OT Program · Clinical Site
- Hospice Alliance · Partner
- Quilters Guild · Community Partner
- Farmers Market · Friend of the Market
There's a job with your mother's name on it.
Call or text Nadia. Tell us what your mom or dad did for a living, and we'll show you where they'd fit.